Brockton offense rocks Tornadoes again

By John McGuirk CORRESPONDENT

Wednesday

Aug 11, 2010 at 12:21 AMAug 12, 2010 at 9:29 AM

The way the Brockton Rox have been ripping the ball the last two nights, it’s doubtful anyone can slow them down.

Certainly not the Worcester Tornadoes, who were pounded, 10-3, last night at Hanover Insurance Park in the second game of a three-game series. The Rox, who scored eight runs over the first two innings, have now won five straight. On Monday night, Brockton feasted on Worcester pitching for 15 runs on 21 hits.

“There really isn’t much to say,” Tornadoes manager Rich Gedman said. “They had our number and hit the ball well. Sometimes you have to give credit to the other team and tonight was certainly one of those nights.”

Against Tornadoes starter Matt Giusti, the Rox picked up where they left off the previous night. Giusti’s struggles on the mound continued as he fell to 2-7.

The pitcher from Hopkinton got himself into trouble right away, allowing four runs in the first inning as five of the first six Brockton batters hit safely. The key contributors in the inning were Phillip Cuadrado (two-run single), Scott Weame (RBI single) and Melvin Falu (RBI single).

The Rox, who had 18 hits in the game, continued to punish Giusti in the second. Back-to-back doubles by Dominic Ramos and Chris Valencia pushed their lead to 5-0. Falu (two RBIs) followed with a run-scoring single. Giusti then loaded the bases, setting up Cuadrado’s two-run single to right that made it 8-0.

For second time in as many games, the Tornadoes dug themselves a deep hole. On Monday, they trailed by 11 runs before rallying to lose, 15-11.

Alex Trezza got one run back for Worcester in the bottom of the second with a solo home run off Brockton starter Wayne Lundgren (6-7), a one-time Red Sox farmhand. The Tornadoes made it 8-2 in the fourth when Nick Salotti, who reached on a fielder’s choice, came around to score on a passed ball.

Lundgren was dominant, going six strong innings and allowing two runs on five hits, walking two and striking out five.

“I thought (Lundgren) did a very nice job out there for them,” Gedman said. “He mixed up his pitches well and kept our guys pretty much off balance. Last night we got down big, but made a game of it late. Tonight, we never could get untracked.”

After a forgettable first two innings, Giusti (4-2/3 innings, 10 runs, 16 hits, four walks, six Ks) settled down briefly before having more problems in the fifth. A leadoff home run by Valencia (4 for 6, two RBIs) got Brockton started. Keith Brachold’s RBI single gave the Rox an eight-run cushion.

After walking Cuadrado, Giusti’s night was over. John Slusarz combined with Craig Maddox to keep Brockton off the scoreboard the rest of the way.

Nick Salotti’s RBI double in the eighth accounted for Worcester’s third run.

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